Vistara and Air India merger nears completion, passengers are facing a unique window of opportunity. Starting September 3, 2024, passengers will no longer be able to book tickets with Vistara for travel on or after November 12, 2024. Vistara, in an official statement, confirmed, “Starting September 3, 2024, customers will, progressively, no longer be able to make bookings with Vistara for travel on or after November 12, 2024.”
Final Vistara Flights and Transition to Air India
Vistara has announced that its final flight will take place on November 11, 2024. From November 12 onward, Air India will take over all Vistara aircraft, with bookings for these flights redirected to Air India’s website. Despite the impending merger, Vistara will continue to operate flights as usual until November 11, ensuring passengers can still book and travel with the airline until that date.
Regulatory Approvals and Investments
The merger received a significant boost when India removed the final roadblock by authorizing a $276 million investment from Singapore Airlines Ltd into the newly merged entity. This development was preceded by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approving the merger in June 2024. Earlier, Singapore’s competition regulator, the CCCS, gave conditional approval in March, followed by the Competition Commission of India’s approval in September 2023, contingent on specific conditions.
Also Read: NCLAT approved the Jalan Kalrock Consortium’s acquisition of Jet Airways
Vistara’s Farewell and Commitment to a Smooth Transition
Vistara’s Chief Executive, Vinod Kannan, expressed gratitude for the customer support over the past decade and emphasized the benefits of the merger. “As we progress further in our growth journey, we want to emphasize that this merger is about offering more choice with a larger fleet and a wider network while elevating the overall travel experience. Vistara and Air India are committed to ensuring that this transition is smooth and hassle-free,” Kannan said.
Frequent Flyer Programs to Merge
As a result of the merger, Vistara’s frequent flyer program, Club Vistara, will be phased out and merged with Air India’s Flying Returns program. However, until the transition is complete, Club Vistara will continue to operate as usual, allowing members to earn and redeem points.
Following the merger, Singapore Airlines will hold a 25.1% stake in the newly combined Air India, investing over Rs 2,000 crore. The airline has assured that it will keep customers informed with regular updates through the Vistara and Air India websites, social media channels, and email as the merger progresses.
